In the face of an approaching hurricane, the focus often falls on wind speed as a measure of a storm's strength. However, the lesser-known but highly destructive force of storm surge can have devastating consequences, as seen in past natural disasters.
Storm surge is the rise in sea water level above normal caused by a hurricane. Unlike wind speed, storm surge doesn't account for wave height above the mean water level. This phenomenon can lead to catastrophic flooding, pushing buildings off their foundations, submerging roads and bridges, and posing a significant threat to coastal communities.
